Page 104 of Spar of Hearts

If the situation were reversed, and two measly copper coins could bring Anya a little peace, he wouldn’t hesitate. Was it so crazy to believe she’d do the same for him?

He ignored his inner protests and paid for the Rhodias. Chewing and swallowing one flower before he could change his mind, he tucked the jar into the inner pocket of his vest.

“Roderick!”

He froze in the doorway as Anya bounded up to him, holding the skirts of her dress up over her ankles as she ran. He feared she would question him, but she merely chimed, “You have to see this!” and tugged him toward the book wagon, paying no mind to his presence at the apothecary.

She stopped pulling him only once they reached the table, where the Were merchant sat on a stool, picking at his fingernails.

“This one,” Anya said, sliding a heavy, maroon tome titled Advanced Maladies - Volume 1 toward them. She was practically vibrating with excitement.

“We need this book.” Anya flipped through the index. “Look!” She jabbed a claw at the page, sending his eyes flying down the list of ‘B’ symptoms:

Black Fluid - see holler mushroom, page 573

Anya started to flip to page 573, but the merchant growled at them and slammed the book shut. Her fingers barely made it.

“You’ve looked long enough. If you want to read it, you gotta buy it.”

“How much?” Roderick fiddled in his pockets for their few remaining copper coins.

The merchant held it up. “Five silver. This is mage tower quality, folks! All the best healers use this book.”

“Five?” Roderick balked. They’d received ten copper from Juniper. “How many copper to a silver piece?”

“Twenty,” the merchant huffed. He tugged the book out of their reach, placing it on the front of the wagon. “Where are you lot from, the damn moon?”

Even if Juniper hired them every day, it would take at least ten days to buy the book, and that wasn’t considering what they would spend on food and supplies. And there was no guarantee the book held the solution, or even referenced the disease affecting the Balcott children.

“If we give you five copper now, would you hold it for us until we get the rest?” Anya asked, swiping a few pieces from Roderick’s palm.

“No holds,” the merchant said with a huff. “First come, first serve. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have paying customers waiting.” He plastered a toothy grin onto his face and recited faux pleasantries to the Elf standing beside them.

Anya fumed as they walked away. “That—that cur! ‘Mage tower quality.’ What does that even mean?”

“That there’s a tower full of mages who sniff fancy old books just like you?”

She whirled her head to him. “I am not a book sniffer!”

“I saw you.” He leaned over and caught a whiff of her hair. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul.” Instant calm washed over him. It still held the faintest hint of citrus under the sage soap, and something that was uniquely her. A layer he hadn’t noticed before.

Anya pointed to a flower stand, where a hulking stag Elf stood arranging bouquets and tying them in twine. “As long as we’re in the market, why don’t we see what we can learn about Aquillas? I should like to know the name of their ruler before we waltz into the capital.”

“And how do you plan to do that without raising suspicion?” Roderick questioned.

Anya linked her claws together and stretched her fingers. “Watch and learn.”

She confidently strode up to the stand. “Pardon me,” she said.

The stag turned around with a daffodil still in his hand. “Yes? How can I help you?”

“Settle a bet for me,” Anya said, flashing a copper piece between her claws. “My companion here doesn’t believe the average folk can spell our ruler’s full name and title. Care to prove him wrong?”

“Ha! Easy as pie.” The stag stepped behind his stand and pulled out a scrap of parchment and a stick of charcoal. He wrote hastily, then paused, bringing the stick to his chin and leaving a black streak. Scribbling the last bit down, he handed the parchment to Anya.

Rune Erun Amund, the Winter Prince

Roderick peeked at the paper over Anya’s shoulder as she handed the coin over. A prince? How could a prince be the ruler?